Mark walked back into the warm living room carrying little Leo in his arms.
Elena was busy cleaning up the spilled rice from the polished floor tiles.
Mark: Elena, please put that broom down right now.
Elena stopped moving and looked up at her employer with worry on her face.
Elena: I am so sorry I did not tell you sooner, Mr. Mark.
Mark: You saved my son today, Elena. You have nothing to apologize for.
Mark: Starting today, I am promoting you to full-time house manager with double pay.
Elena wiped a happy tear from her eye and smiled warmly at the toddler.
Elena: Thank you so much, sir. I love little Leo like my own child.
Mark: I know you do. You were the only real protector he had today.
Mark sat down on the soft velvet sofa and set Leo on his lap.
The toddler was smiling happily now as he reached for a small wooden toy.
Mark realized how close he had come to losing everything that truly mattered.
Money and business trips meant nothing if his home was unsafe for his boy.
Mark: I am cutting my work travel hours in half starting tomorrow morning.
Elena: That will be so wonderful for Leo, Mr. Mark.
Mark: My family comes first before any corporate business deals from now on.
Leo looked up at his father and let out a sweet soft laugh.
He held up his favorite blue toy car toward Mark's warm smiling face.
Mark kissed his son's forehead and hugged him tight against his warm chest.
The dark shadow over their grand home was finally gone for good today.